#MuseumWeek Retrospective!

Last week’s #MuseumWeek tweetstorm was an awful lot of fun, especially following the #SciArt event just a few weeks earlier. I thought I’d share a couple of photos and thoughts for each day’s theme – I didn’t manage to post something for each day on Twitter, but I’ll fill in some thoughts and photos here!

Day 1: Secrets

One of the nice things about working in the Paleontology & Geology Research Lab at the North Carolina Musuem of Natural Sciences is that “behind the scenes” is part of the scene. You can actually stare at me while I’m working away at my computer each day, if you desire to do such a thing. More interesting, probably, would be to watch our staff, students, and volunteers preparing fossils in the main lab space – secrets waiting to be revealed. But hey, whatever floats your boat!

If you’re in Raleigh, stop by and say hi to Carnufex!

Day 2: Souvenirs

I am kind of a Stuff Person and also have a Thing for Museum Gift Shops. As such, I have loads of doodads from my various museum visits. One of the things I like picking up are postcards, especially those that have non-Tyrannosaurus dinosaurs featured on them. For a while, I had these up on my wall at my apartment in Edmonton. Those who have visited my UofA office will also be familiar with my embarassingly large collection of ankylosaur toys, or as I prefer to refer to them, ‘scientific models for grown-ups’.

Recognize any museums from your own travels?

Day 3: Architecture

I had a lot of fun with this one on twitter because I LOVE interesting museum architecture. A couple of favourites:

And I think the SECU Daily Planet at the NC Museum is pretty swell (on the inside, it’s a theatre!):

Day 4: Inspiration

Some non-dinosaur stuff for inspiration day: I really like learning about Canadian art and its history, and one of my very favourite museums on the entire planet is the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia. If you’re in Vancouver, DO NOT MISS THAT MUSEUM. It’s an emotional experience to step into the exhibits at this museum and be surrounded by so much creativity and history and skill. Here’s a sample to sharpen your brain.

Day 5: Family

I’m lucky to have had great parents that fed my dinosaur obsession as a kid with trips to museums near and far. I’d love to dig out some photos from the before time, but for now, I’ll leave this day for my own memories. What are some of your favourite museum memories from your childhood?

Day 6: Favourites

I like busy museums that are crammed full of stuff, especially when that takes the form of a Wall of Stuff or a Hall of Stuff. Here’s a few of my favourites.